Tigers team up for Iron Hand

Photo By Senior Airman Jasmine Barnes | A U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper pilot assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron gestures tiger claws with her hands during exercise Iron Hand at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 10, 2021. Iron Hand was designed to strengthen Air Combat Command’s ability to rapidly move between locations, be tactically unpredictable and give Airmen the opportunity to assist teammates. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jasmine M. Barnes)  

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA, UNITED STATES

11.10.2021

Story by Senior Airman Jasmine Barnes 

23rd Wing

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The 74th Fighter Squadron served as a Tactical Operations Center at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, for the 20th Fighter Wing’s exercise, Iron Hand, Nov. 8-10, 2021.

Iron Hand was designed to strengthen Air Combat Command’s ability to rapidly move between locations, be tactically unpredictable and give Airmen the opportunity to assist teammates. By providing a contingency location, Moody AFB made it possible for the 20th FW to conduct the exercise.

“Iron Hand is an example of how two wings are learning together,” said Maj. William Piepenbring, 23rd Fighter Group assistant director of operations. “During the exercise, A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft and F-16 Vipers flew together in Moody’s airspace and practiced their warfighting functions to include close air support and suppression of enemy air defenses.”

Side by side, the 74th and 79th Fighter Squadrons conducted integrated combat turns and hot-pit refuels.

Staff Sgt. Tova Coonce, 79th Fighter Generation Squadron maintainer, said these procedures showcase their abilities to reload and refuel jets in order to get them back in the sky as quickly as possible.

By conducting these tactics at various locations, ACC units can practice how they would perform in contested environments.

“This prepares us for the future of being able to operate in different environments,” said Master Sgt. Kamil Glowacki, 79th FGS aircraft section chief. “It’s forcing our Airmen to take on greater responsibility and partner with multiple units to execute operations.”

While Moody AFB mainly provided Shaw AFB with a location to operate from, Moody AFB’s 74th FS benefitted from the exercise as well.

“It’s an awesome opportunity to fly together and sharpen our aviation skills,” Piepenbring said. “Our strategic competitors are improving their capabilities and we must adapt to maintain our edge. The more opportunities we get to practice under this new way of presenting forces, the better we get.”

As ACC continues to hone ACE capabilities, its units will continue to practice from locations with varying levels of capacity and support, ensuring Airmen and aircrews are postured to deliver lethal combat power across the spectrum of military operations.

• Date Taken: 11.10.2021
• Date Posted: 11.12.2021 15:14
• Story ID: 409260
• Location: MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, GA, US